The Town FilesPreston, Wisconsin
Town in Trempealeau County · population 942 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $286,700
- Household income
- $100,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.7
Preston is a town of 942 people in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $286,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 79% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 74% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $286,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $100,625, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $842 | $951 |
| Median household income | $100,625 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.5% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 26, 1959 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 10, 1968.
Severe weather in Trempealeau County since 1996
Trempealeau County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Preston
- Blair, WI3.4 mi · 1,325 people · home $141,500
- Whitehall, WI6.4 mi · 1,645 people · home $152,100
- Ettrick, WI7.1 mi · 1,285 people · home $234,000
- Pigeon, WI7.3 mi · 1,018 people · home $217,500
- Springfield, WI7.6 mi · 693 people · home $238,800
- Lincoln, WI7.8 mi · 779 people · home $208,300
- Arcadia, WI8.2 mi · 1,696 people · home $266,900
- Independence, WI8.5 mi · 1,498 people · home $166,000
Preston questions
Is Preston, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 37% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 52%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $286,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,625, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.1 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 26, 1959. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)